Myanmar Govt in exile urges 'refugees' in India to stay away from ethnic conflicts

Nirendra Dev *

"....The refugees or Myanmar nationals staying in Indian states have been asked to be cautious and avoid unnecessary involvement in political activities like election campaigns and ethnic-based conflicts of the state where they are taking refuge," an informed source said.

'Myanmar nationals' have been asked to avoid joining the poll campaign in Mizoram polls due November 2023. These may be signs of enhanced cooperation between India and authorities in Myanmar's government in exile, the 'National Unity Govt', as the NUG has urged the 'refugees' taking shelter in India to stay away from election campaigns and ethnic-based conflicts.

This is a significant statement as a large number of Myanmar people are taking shelter in parts of Mizoram and Manipur. Some ethnic Myanmar people including Chins share ethnic bonds with Kukis and Mizos.

Manipur is experiencing the worst ever ethnic and communal conflicts in various parts of the state including in Imphal valley and Kuki-infested hilly region for the last six weeks. On the other hand, Mizoram faces its next round of assembly polls by November this year.

Since February 2001, a large number of Myanmar people have crossed over to Mizoram. Sources said there are about 160 relief camps set up across Mizoram. The state already hosts 35,126 Myanmar refugees of which 15,589 people are being lodged in relief camps across the state while over 19,000 people are living with their relatives and friends or rented houses, sources said.

The Myanmar government in exile also asked the 'Myanmar nationals' taking shelter in India to refrain from any acts that are prejudicial to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of India.

The NUG was set up in exile formed by a panel representing a group of elected lawmakers and members of parliament in Myanmar who were 'ousted' in the 2021 Myanmar military coup.

The NUG’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reportedly asked the Myanmar refugees not to get involved in illegal trafficking of drugs and wild animals, and related matters and to “live in harmony" and appropriately with host communities and follow the religious and social rules regulated in the wards or villages where they are residing in India.

The Myanmar violence resulted in growing numbers of Zo and smaller tribes coming into Manipur and Mizoram fleeing counterinsurgency operations by the junta in Myanmar.

Many of these 'Myanmar nationals' refugees belong to the same ethnic group, the Kuki-Chin-Zomi-Mizo tribe and there are some who have started living in the hills of Manipur.

After recent clashes again another problem area has developed wherein the 'trans-movement' of the Hmar, Paiteis and Kuki tribes along the Manipur-Mizoram border have increased. In 1995-96 also such things had been reported when there were Naga-Kuki clashes, sources said.

There are an estimated 1.35 ethnic Nagas in Myanmar especially in the Sagaing division bordering Nagaland and Manipur states.

In the 1990s, the Naga Hills Regional Progressive Party was banned by the Myanmar government. This was around the time when NSCN (K) was active with their multiple guerrilla operations.

There are apprehensions that the porous border is being used for drug smuggling and for movement of militants. Home Minister Amit Shah has also stated that during his visit to Manipur that biometrics of people coming from neighbouring countries including Myanmar were being collected.

Mizoram shares a 510 km border with Myanmar while on a wider scale Myanmar has a 1,643 km of international border with India along Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

In 2020 during the Covid19 crisis, there was a rise in smuggling and organized crime along the Manipur-Myanmar border as insurgent groups easily found new recruits because the formal economy at the local level was destroyed.

Notably, under the law, the state governments in north east India have no power to grant "refugee" status to any foreigner.